The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-17

| to recall his lonely childhood and youth
Is not the fate of this poor Val easily sur.
misedl
Tramping alone by the riverside, Val
at last discovers and acknowledges ia
himself the cause of the vague wretched.
ness of the past weeks acknowledges
with sickening realization that his hap
piness for life is in the hands of girl
who has only an unreasoning hatred or,
at best, a supreme indifference, to
give him; and he grinds his boot-heel
/ into the soft turf as he goes slowly to-
ward the camp.
A sudden turn around a clump of
fringe hung birches, and Mr. Graham be-
holds spectacle which drives away from
him all thoughts of his own troubles.
Upon gnarly old tree, leaning far out
over the river, sits Miss Bess, plainly dis
consulate. In the pool below her, her
hat is slowly sailing around like gon-
dola Of new design. At the sound of
footsteps she raises her head; but as her
eyes meet his, the welcoming CLEAN of
hope in them gives way to flash of ire,
and she says, petulantly:
"Oh, | hoped you were Steenie."
'Tm sorry" he says, gently, "but
Steenie would not help you more gladly
than l would, were it in my power"
After pause, during hich the girls
tears puzzle him, he continued quietly:
''Let us go home to the boys and our
campfire. 1t is getting late. You will
take cold there; and you have lost your
hat, too.
"Not at ALL" returns Bess. 81 am
only leaving it there till come down. l
am waiting for the sunset, but you need
not wait too
"But l should like to-"
A long pause ensues Miss Fleming
apparently gives rapt attention to some
soft, fluffy little clouds flushed to a rose
pink by the setting sun. Mr.. Graham as
intently gives his whole mind, aided by
his good right arm, to the recovery of
the truant hat, which cludes his i'm
promptu fishing-pole with an agility
which seems to prove it endowed with
the spirit of its wilful owner.
81 wish you would come down now,"
he breaks forth, landing as he speaks his
dripping and somewhat dilapidated
prize. "You don't look comfortable up
there"
"Well, I'm not, :" she replied, with un-
looked-for energy and a hysterical min
Cling of tears and laughter. "The branch
that helped me up here broke off, and
then floated down the river. Every time
have tried to get down have nearly
pitched into the water, so have sat here
for hours like craven image, and my
two feet fast asleep. I'd have jumped in
long ago, before you found me sitting
here like an IDIOT" she concludes, vehe-
mently, ''only it looks so deep down
there
As she finishes he has found firm
footing among the roots of her tree,
and with u gravity which causes Bess to
regard him with suspicion, says, in a
business-like way:
IF you will lean forward q trihe,
will place you on terra firma and we will
60"
But Miss Fleming has resumed her con-
temptation of the sky, and without
glancing at him, says, willfully:
al told you before that intended stay
here to see the sunset. You are so evi-
IDENTIFY in haste, you may go. But be
sure and tell Steenie want him"
Valentines arms fall, his face whitens
and his voice rings with passionate anger:
$50 may not even touch your hand,
and l would give my life for you! You
have nothing but undeserved contempt
for me, and II love youm
lie folds his arms upon the tree and
drops his head upon them, as if the end
of all things had indeed come.
Bessies eyes are looking far away, and
within them a new sweet light of self
revelation grows and deepens.
The little-clouds are growing gray the
cool twilight seems to creep closer, with
its soft, cool languor and its blurring
shadows. The wind sighs through the
trees in low, sad whispers; the murmur
of the river sounds clear and loud. A
saucy bird, very near suddenly gives
shrill, startling cry, and Bess stirs un-
easily, and with her eyes dropped to the
helpless little boots, says, nervOusly, with
an argumentative air;
"This out-of-door life is very health
ful, don't you think"
At this apparently irrelevant remark
Valentine raises his head and looks at
her in great amazement.
81 have grown so very stout and
heavy" she continues, bravely, "that l
do not think you could lift me down"
clam quite willing to try" he says,
with eager sarcasm and with iAe color
flushing her sweet face, she leans toward
him with outstretchcd hands.
cannot tell you anything more, ex-
cept that, as they came into camp arm in
arm, with a new light in their faces,
Halls boots received an especial bene-
diction; Martha knocked over the coffee
pot in fit of bewilderment; Car upset
Steenie in the eXuberance of his Joy;
while Tom, in an aside, asked: "What
toW Uncle Ralph sayl"-Frdnk Leslie's.